WHEN Australians awoke on June 24, 2010 to news they had a new Prime Minister - the first woman in the country's history - it was meant to be the dawn of a new Labor.

Kevin Rudd had lost the support of his party after months of unhappiness over erratic behaviour, rushed policy and increasingly unreasonable demands and he'd been forced to resign.

Kevin, who'd been here to help, had lost his way and his deputy had needed to make a stand and take his job for the good of good government.

But bumps in the road began almost immediately for the Gillard election bandwagon as damaging leaks landed some deep blows.

It was also then that Ms Gillard made a pledge that would haunt her for the next three years: "There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead."

Labor bled votes gained in the election euphoria that was Kevin '07 - but there was still enough support to get them over the line as some crafty manoeuvring by Ms Gillard locked key Independents and the Greens in around her.

Of course, the hung parliament meant carbon pricing was now very much on the cards.

And despite the environment being a key concern for voters in 2007, the policy was not a popular venture.

Another continuing issue was that of the mining tax after Mr Rudd's super profits tax vision had drawn, not just criticism, but a full-on onslaught from mining companies.

Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan cleared up that mess - but was the final Minerals Resource Rent Tax deal too tough on business or not tough enough?

The measly $126 million it's collected in its first six months has drawn no applause. It was supposed to reap $2 billion in its first year.

Dealing with asylum seeker boat arrivals, which had kicked into overdrive since the Howard years, has also caused the Gillard Government a huge amount of pain - not just politically but also in the budget.

East Timor scuttled Ms Gillard's election promise to build a processing centre there and the High Court smacked down as illegal her plan B - the Malaysian asylum seeker swap.

A long and drawn-out impasse ended with the Gillard Government adopting its independent panel's recommendation to reopen offshore processing on Nauru and Manus Island - a move long argued by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

But the move has not seen much change in arrivals, and sheer numbers mean most asylum seekers have to be processed in the community.

The Government was strengthened - in numbers at least - when a bizarre turn of events led to Labor's Harry Jenkins stepping down as Speaker and LNP turncoat Peter Slipper stepping up.

Having an Independent MP assume the role gave Labor another vote in the House - and allowed it to shed its deal with Andrew Wilkie on toughening up gambling on poker machines.

Heralded as a political masterstroke by some, it very much turned out not to be when he was forced to step down in disgrace less than a year later.

SlipperSource:News Limited

During that time, Labor suspended Craig Thomson from the party when the glare of long running allegations over the misusing of union funds to pay for prostitutes finally became too bright.

The failed media reforms of the past fortnight have only sought to heighten pressure on Ms Gillard's leadership, culminating in this afternoon’s leadership ballot.

When Kevin Rudd challenged in February last year, it was spectacular.

He quit as foreign minister, flew home from a US trip, and declared it was time for him to finish the job he started.

Kevin RuddSource:AP

Rudd slammed Gillard, saying she was leading the country to the rocks and had lost the trust of the people.

He mobilised his family and called for the Australian public to rise up and avenge him, to call for his return.

But the answer was even uglier as a line of his former Cabinet colleagues lined up in a thorough character assassination rarely seen in public life.

As a defeated backbencher, Rudd pledged his support to the victorious and went off to lick his wounds.

But he's remained a Plan B in the minds of many since then.

His announcement today that he would not seek the leadership despite public calls for him to run, cemented Gillard in the leadership.

Gillard, and deputy Wayne Swan, were re-elected unopposed with no other candidates nominating for the positions.